Firms to lose licence for ignoring SOP
KUALA LUMPUR: Companies that fail to comply with stipulated standard operating procedures (SOP) throughout the conditional movement control order (CMCO) will face immediate revocation of their operating permits as well as legal action, said Minister of International Trade and Industry Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali.
He said his ministry had issued a letter regarding SOP compliance to 171 associations and chambers of business on Nov 26.
“The letter is to prove that the Ministry of International Trade and Industry takes a serious view of SOP compliance following the recent increase in new Covid-19 cases,” he said.
Azmin was speaking after having lunch with Pertubuhan Pewaris Anak-anak Melayu Gombak and Penggerak Komuniti Tempatan Gombak yesterday.
In detailing the content of the letter, he said if companies were found to have flouted the SOP and do not cooperate with the Health Ministry, the government would take action to shut down their premises and factories under Section 18(1)(d) of the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988.
“The question now is SOP compliance, as well as employers’ responsibility to bear the cost of Covid-19 screenings in a bid to break the chain of infections,” he said, adding that industry players had a role to play towards curbing the spread of Covid-19.
“Don’t put the burden solely on the government. Industries rake in huge profits, so they too must contribute towards efforts to curb the spread of Covid-19 among the workforce, especially foreign workers,” he said.
Earlier, he presented contributions to 25 recipients comprising students from the B40 group and the orang asli community, school cooperatives as well as small enterprise operators. – Bernama